FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 9, 1881

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS.

REV. SYLVANUS STALL, in his new book entitled "How to Pay Church Debts, and How to Keep Churches Out of Debt," after discussing the subject of church entertainments, concludes by saying:—

"We know of no arguments in favor of such entertainments, and some of the arguments against them might be briefly stated as follows:—

1. In proportion as they are more frequently used do they despoil the church of its spiritual power.

2. Those who labor faithfully for the success of the enterprise are apt to suffer from unkind speech, or unjust suspicion in the management of the finances.

3. In most cases they are employed by Christians who withhold from God that which he requires at their hands, while they seek to carry forward the work of the church by drawing the needed funds from 'outsiders.' They covet the wealth of the wicked, and seek opportunity to gain their influence and money. 'Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.'

4. If not universally, yet quite generally they alienate from the church some of its most useful members.

5. Whatever other effect these entertainments may have upon those who are not church members, they surely will not lead poor sinners to the cross of Christ.

6. Those most worldly minded in the congregation are sure to desire and apt to succeed in being at the head of these entertainments, and, guard them as best we may, they are almost sure to introduce into them such features as are ruinous to the best interests of the church; a disgusting song spoils the concert, a double-entendre the exhibition, cordials, cider and cigars the picnic, a heterodox statement of irreligious sentiment the lecture—on and on, through the whole list, the devil is determined to be in somewhere, or his personal friends will denounce the pastor as an 'old fogy,' get enraged because they cannot have their own way, dismember the congregation, and then leave in disgust.

7. Last, but by no means the least of all the evils, is the undeniable fact that church fairs, oyster suppers and the whole round of church entertainments are fatal to every impulse and principle of Christian benevolence."